Brooklyn – The biggest cliché in band names during the 2000s was ‘wolf.’ For a while, it seemed like if a band didn’t have an extraneous consonant, they had some reference to wolves doing something wolves don’t normally do: Wolf Parade, Wolfmother, Sea Wolf, and about a bajillion others. Eventually, a moratorium was called and
Los Angeles – The dream pop group Yumi Zouma is the formation of three friends Charlie Ryder, Josh Burgess, and Kim Pflaum. Each individually live in different places (New York, Paris, and Christchurch, New Zealand). Last year Lorde brought fellow New Zealanders Yumi Zouma on tour with her for select dates. The band features the
Seattle – Since the release of their hit debut single “High” in spring 2014, Young Rising Sons have become a band to watch. The alt-rock four-piece, made up of Andy Tongren (vocals/guitar), Dylan Scott (lead guitar), Julian Dimagiba (bass), and Steve Patrick (drums), craft catchy, listenable pop-rock shaded with New York grit, as heard on
Los Angeles – Last Friday’s record-release show for Colleen Green’s third full-length record, I Want To Grow Up, was essentially just an enormous punk-rock party – an all-ages event that had the spontaneity and organization of a high-school basement show. There was no green room for this show at Historic Monument 157, as Colleen spent
New York – Courtney Barnett, the mold-breaking musician out of Melbourne, Australia (and Best New Bands 2014 Newbie Award Winner), is unleashing a double dose of news for anxious fans: new music and a massive North American tour! The Aussie’s forthcoming debut album, Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit is set
Nashville – Franklin, Tennessee natives Colony House delivered a hearty homecoming performance to local audiences this past Friday night at Marathon Music Works. The band returned to the south as a part of their tour alongside the South African alternative band Kongos and the indie pop group Sir Sly. The venue, housed in the sprawling
New York – MisterWives, an insatiably effervescent indie pop act out of New York, has rocketed to the limelight at full tilt since their debut EP one year ago. Now, the whirlwind continues with the release of the band’s first full-length endeavor, Our Own House, just out via Republic Records. The album is positively elastic,
Los Angeles – Chicago indie rockers Empires played to a sold-out show with Rush Midnight, LANY, and headliners Cathedrals. While the other bands attracted a strong core audience with their penchant for synthesizers, the quartet brought something quite different to the night’s lineup. Their pure indie rock resonance was a definite highlight and a refreshing
Nashville – Delightful, danceable, and uniquely rhythmic, O Shudder (via Memphis Industries), the newest LP just out from UK-based band Dutch Uncles, is an energetic collection of songs that ends all too soon. Fast-paced but thoroughly enjoyable, this release demonstrates just how skilled the band is at balancing familiar 80s-throwback sounds with an entirely different
Chicago – Andrew Hozier-Byrne, the Irishman who has been melting hearts and turning concert halls into places of musical worship, played a sold-out show at the Riviera Theatre this past Wednesday night. The 24-year-old blues lover creates fantastic indie rock infused with a mix of gospel, soul, folk, and blues. Hearing Hozier live with his